Silver (Yin)
Modern sources record safety concerns for this herb. Reference information, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Modern sources record toxicity for silver (yin; metallic silver, Ag, and silver compounds). The U.S. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Silver reports that the one clinical condition known to be attributable to long-term exposure to silver and silver compounds is a gray or blue-gray discoloration of the skin (argyria), which may occur at sites of repeated dermal contact or extensively over the skin and the conjunctiva of the eyes following long-term oral or inhalation exposure; accidental swallowing of silver nitrate solution can cause gastric discomfort; and silver is deposited in tissues such as the liver, kidney, skin and conjunctiva. The profile further states that animal toxicity studies and human occupational studies using normal routes of exposure have not provided indications of carcinogenicity, and silver is not expected to be carcinogenic in humans. This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Recorded in Bencao Gangmu for quieting the five viscera, settling the heart-spirit, stopping fright palpitation and dispelling noxious qi, the silver leaf strengthening bone, settling the heart and brightening the eyes, and for wind-heat epilepsy. A toxic mineral substance.
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷八·金类·银·主治
- functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
- WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
- public pharmacopoeia & physical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：主安五脏、定心神，止惊悸、除邪气；古载定志去惊痫，银箔坚骨、镇心明目、去风热癫痫，入丸散用。
Nature & flavor: 辛，平。有毒。
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·银·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·银·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·银·主治Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·银·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.